Thomas crane



THOMAS CRANE, or 'roar ATKINSON, WISCONSIN.-

Leners Patent Nq. 78,187, dreamy 2e, 1868.

IMPnoVnD'Wisnnielnacnine.

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Be it known thatI,` THOMAS CRANE, of Fort Atkinson, in the countyof Jefferson, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and improved Washing-lilacliine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, `and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,imaking a. part of this specication, in whichl Figure 1 is a top/view of the board cover adjusted for use. V

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken throughjthe machine in the vertical plane indicated by red Figure?, is asimilar view ofthe same parts shown in iig. 2, indicating said parts in the position of ig.,l`. Similar letters of reference indicate .corresponding parts in the several gure's. v This invention relatesy to certain .novel improvements onwashng-machines, wherein an oscillating-box or cradle iszemployed for containing the articles while being washed, inI combination with a stationary partition,

against which the` articles in said boxare compressed and beaten by the oscillation of the latter.

The improvement which I have made on this kind of machine consists in providing the oscillating-boxwith a perforated bottom, which`will support the articles above the bottom of the wash-box, and in arranging within said oscillating-box astationary partition, which is perforated, and adapted to serve as an abutment, against which the articles are forcibly compressed and beaten by one end of the oscillating-box, while the opposite end of it serves as a blade for forcing water through the partition upon the articles after every beating-stroke, as will be hereinafter explained. Y

It also consists in providing an oscillatingbox or cradle, which is constructed tooperate, substantially as 'will be hereinafter explained, with a hinged cover, having a rubbing-surface upon one side, and adapted to Serve as a means for rubbing the articles, and for lholding said box in proper position for removing the articles therefrom, as will be hereinafter explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

' The wash-tub consists of vertical sides A A,4 and a semicircular bottom, P, which latter may be made of sheet metal, properly secured to the semicircular edges of the side pieces, so as to make tight joints. This tub is mounted upon legs, R, so that one end of it is somewhat lower than 'the other. WithinY thisrtub, and supported by gudgeons b Z1 upon itsV sides A, is anr oscillating-box or cradle for containing the articles while being cleansed.

This cradle consists of a transverse perforated beater, B, a transverse float or blade, B', a curvedperforated bottom, c, 4side pieces L L', and handles E, which Lare constructedand 'put together, as shown in the drawings,

-so as to constitute a segmental wash-box, which can be oscillated bytaking hold of the transverse bar E of the inclined handles E. The bottom, c, of this cradle is concentric with the curved bottom P ofthe wash-box, and is improved machine, showing the oscillatingbox thrown up, and its rubbingperforated at c c', so as vto allow the escape of water below the articles, during the act of beating and compressing them, as well as through the perforated beating-board B. The board or blade B is not perforated, and is designed to serve as a. means for forcing water `back upon the articles in the-cradle, during the backward strokes of this cradle, after every beating and compressing-operation. l Y

Within the cradle is a. vertical transverse partition, C, the extremities of which aretted in grooves, s made in the vertical side-boards A of the wash-tub, which grooves hold this board `firmly, and allow of .its removal from the washlbox 'by lifting the cradle out of this box. The partition C'is perforated, and made of suiiicient strength to stand the pressure which is brought against it during the act of beating the articles.

The two boards, B and B', are arranged in such manner, with respect to each other and the partition C, that,

at the termination of the forward strokes of the cradle, the board B will be in a plane parallel, or nearly so,V

to partition C, and at the termination of the .backward strokes of the cradle, the board B will boina plane parallel to the said partition,'as indicated in iigs. 2 and 3. Y

To the upper edge of the float-board B', a board, D is hinged,- whieh is designed to serve as a cover for the cradle, during the operation ofwashing, to prevent water from being,v thrown vup out of the cradle, and it is also designed to serve as a support for a corrugated rubbing-board, a a, which latter is applied upon its bottom side, and serves, when adjusted, as shown in gs. 1 andS, as a means for rubbing the articles while removing. them from the cradle.- When the cover D is thrown back, its edge is adjusted into a'noteh, p, made in the transverse end-piece A,which'will hold the cradle back, and expose 'the rubbing-board a, and also' the-articl'esin. the

cradle, so as to render it very convenient for removing the articles from the cradle, and ru'bbing them at the' same time. v K To operate the machine, thearticles areputinto the space between the partition C and perforatedboa'rd B, and the cover D shut, as shown in {ig. 2.

A suit-able quantity of water being in the tub, the operatorgraspsthe cross-liar of handles E and oscillates'- the cradle. At every forward stroke of the cradle, the articles will be broughtforcibly against -the partition C by the board B,'and beaten and compressed. v K y v When thc cradle is moved backward, the board B will force water through the partition upon thc articles, which, with the lifting-action oi' the bottom, c, will cause theA articles toturn over lor change position.

When this operation isi-repeated as'often as required, the cradle is th'rown back, and the cover raised and adjusted in the position shown in figs. 1 and 3. -A'lhe articles' are then drawn out of the cradle over ,the inclined rubbing-board a, and, if necessary', rubbed with the hands upon this'board. l

j The elevated side piece S is'intended to serve as a means for clamp'inga wringer to the wash-tub for wring- `ing out the articles. l

It will be seen frein the above description that thearticles, while being cleansed, are-supportcdupon-a perforated; bottom, c, over thebottorn, P, of the wash-box, and that these articles Aare thus-moved back and forth, and causedlto present diiiereiit surfaces to the two boards B C, during the operation of cleansing. Having describedv my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The construction of the oscillating-cradle with a bottoni, c, which is independent ofr` the tub, incombination with the stationary partition C, arrangedl within said cradle, substantially'fa's described.

2. The cradle, constructed witlia bottom, and with ts back board closed, andl its front beard perforated, in combination with a perforated removable partition C, arranged within thel cradle, but connected tothe outer tub, substantiallyin the manner described. 'Y I y' y n 3, The cradle,havinga bottom and ends, substantially asdescribed, and a top which is hinged, and iuted or roughened on its underv surface, in combination with the board A. of the tub, substantially as described.v

l THOMAS CRANE.

Witnesses:

NnF. Homme, J. It. JAMES. 

